Missouri's central location in the United States and ongoing geographic change present both unique opportunities and challenges. This volume examines Missouri's broad geographical themes including population patterns, urban and rural settlement, economic activity, political geography, and regional divisions. Drawing from a wide variety of sources from popular literature to government reports and field research, it presents a comprehensive analysis of the state's geographic patterns. Persistent issues such as balancing resource use with conservation and the population concentration in a small portion of the state also remain critically significant and central to the study. Accompanied by maps and photographic evidence, this work will help students, policymakers, and the general public increase their understanding of these geographical trends and their broader implications.